Medical Doctors Increasingly Dissatisfied with Job

The July, 2001 issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine reports that medical doctors have become more and more dissatisfied with the practice of medicine over the last 10 years.

Two studies on doctor satisfaction, taken 10 years apart suggest that doctors increasingly cite the differences between what they expected their profession to be like and the realities of practice as being the main cause of their dilemma.

Problems with managed care, professional autonomy, lack of time to spend with individual patients and a decrease in leisure time also contributed.

In 1986, 75% of doctors reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their total earnings. In 1997, that number dropped to 55%.

By way of commentary, the next time you see your chiropractor, ask if they are satisfied with their job. We have a pretty good idea what the answer will be.